Reader: Table dirty? Your server can just scrape that crud onto the floor

This past weekend we served a second helping of Sean Kenyon's list of the ten rudest things servers and bartenders do -- a list based on his almost thirty-year career in service. "What really gets to me is when people in my industry treat guests like they're doing the guests...

By Patricia Calhoun

January 27, 2014

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This past weekend we served a second helping of Sean Kenyon's list of the ten rudest things servers and bartenders do -- a list based on his almost thirty-year career in service. "What really gets to me is when people in my industry treat guests like they're doing the guests a favor by taking care of them," he says. "In my opinion, the hospitality starts with us regardless of the attitude or actions of our guests. It is our job to turn any poor treatment around; that's what we are here for." But apparently not at Olive Garden, according to one of the many readers who commented on this column.

Says Blondy:

Olive Garden true story...we were escorted to a table that had not been wiped down with a bar towel. It had visible food leavings on it when the hostess tried to seat us. I mentioned that the table had food on it and could someone please clean it before we sit. She took the edge of the menu and scraped the crud onto the floor, then tossed the menus on the table and walked off. I wrote a letter to both the manager and the corporate office...no response. We don't go to the Olive Garden any more.

What was your worst service experience at a restaurant -- Olive Garden or not? And to give customers equal time, read the "Ten rudest things customers do to make servers wish you'd never come into their restaurant."

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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